The Nigerian Federal Government is undertaking the recruitment of 819 young individuals who will receive training as tractor operators and mechanics. This initiative seeks to enhance mechanized farming practices and bolster food security nationwide.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Temitope Fashedemi, revealed this development during a two-day workshop in Abuja dedicated to formulating the National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy. The workshop brought together policymakers, agricultural experts, industry leaders, farmers’ associations, and development partners.
Despite Nigeria acquiring over 30,000 agricultural machines in the past, there are currently fewer than 5,000 functional tractors in the country, as lamented by Fashedemi. The ministry is collaborating with agricultural equipment manufacturers such as John Deere, Belarus Tractors, and the Green Imperative Programme to supply an additional 32,500 tractors within the next five years.
As part of these efforts, the ministry has initiated the training of 819 tractor operators and mechanics at centers in Akure and Misau. Fashedemi highlighted the absence of a national policy on agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria and emphasized the significance of establishing one to enhance agricultural productivity, food security, and farmers’ income.
Furthermore, the training program aims to equip participants with the necessary skills to operate farm machinery effectively. Frank Kudla, the Director of the Federal Department of Rural Development, supported the revision of the agricultural mechanisation policy, stressing the importance of incorporating modern technology into traditional farming practices to meet the evolving needs of the population.
Kudla underscored the policy’s role in promoting mechanised farming and empowering farmers with essential tools, knowledge, and resources to excel in a competitive global market. The policy draft addresses critical areas such as machinery access, training, finance, and sustainable practices, aiming to build a robust and mechanised agricultural sector in Nigeria.